Times reporters blog about high school sports across the Southland

Football: Will Crespi put up the big bucks?

December 10, 2009 | 2:17
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OK, now that Encino Crespi has shown that two consecutive years of not making the Pac-5 Division playoffs means you're out of here, what kind of coach would be interested in taking the job? Someone who expects to be paid big bucks.

If the Celts want to entice a big name, all they have to do is get the alumni to donate so the salary exceeds $100,000. Harry Welch, a member of Crespi's first graduating class who last coached with the team in 1973, said today he's always willing to listen to offers. He's at San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret's and preparing his team for a Saturday championship game. He'd bring instant credibility to the Celts' program.

But from my years observing Crespi, the Celts haven't exactly gotten it right when a coach leaves, resulting in several disastrous hires. And with Los Angeles Loyola also looking for a coach, the competition in the Serra League is getting very tough.

I think Jeremiah Ross was a competent, energetic coach who got unlucky. If a last-second 51-yard field goal against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame goes wide right, the Celts are in the playoffs. He had Crespi in the 2007 Pac-5 Division final. Does everyone know how difficult that is? Notre Dame has never made it, and Coach Kevin Rooney, in his 30th season, is one of the best.

So good luck to the Celts as they try to make it back to the top. Their former coach, Troy Thomas, has Servite in the championship game. He left Crespi five years ago because he didn't like the way the school administration was handling disciplinary problems. Let's see who wants to take on the challenge.